LANGUAGE CORNER
French Calendar
OCTOBER EVENTS
Nuit Blanche (7 October 2023)
When the French spend a sleepless night, they call it a nuit blanche (white night). And you're unlikely to get much kip during Paris's annual Nuit Blanche on the first Saturday of October. Special routes all across the city are lined with vast art installations, music, fireworks, and light shows.
Le Salon du Chocolat (28 October – 1 November)
For over 25 years, the Salon du Chocolat or Paris Chocolate Show has been a real treat for chocolate-loving children and adults. Each year, thousands of visitors flock to the Parc des Expositions in Paris to peruse the stands of the 280 exhibitors present.
The concept is to invite chocolatiers and chocolate producers from all over the world, to understand where chocolate comes from and what the process to making great chocolate is, putting the producers in the spotlight as well and not only the famous chocolatiers.
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Paris Photo (9-12 November 2023)
Paris Photo is the largest international art fair dedicated to the photographic medium and is held each November in the heart of Paris. The next edition of Paris Photo will be held November 9 through 12, 2023 at the Grand Palais Éphémère, designed by the architects Wilmotte & Associés.
The event offers a selection of photo-based artworks from galleries alongside a public programme of exhibitions, prizes, art signings and talks.
The Fair currently presents four exhibition sections: the main section with solo and group shows and thematic projects, the prisms section devoted to large-format series and installation works, the video section with moving images, and the book section with publishers and dealers.
La fête du Beaujolais Nouveau (16 November 2023)
The New Beaujolais Festival is celebrated throughout France on the third Thursday in November every year, the date when wine-making finishes and the new wine can be sold.
A vibrant, fruit-forward wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is created through carbonic maceration, a method during which whole red grapes rest inside a tank with carbon dioxide, triggering fermentation to begin within the uncrushed grapes. The technique yields wines with a light, refreshing flavour profile.
Japanese Calendar
OCTOBER EVENTS
October is a beautiful time to visit Japan. The weather is cooling down with the change of seasons and the beauty of the natural landscape cannot be under-estimated. Japanese residents look forward to a break from the stifling summer heat and the opportunity to experience many local festivals and events.
紅葉(こうよう) Autumn colours
Colourful leaves are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. The viewing of autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries and today draws large numbers of travellers to famous koyo spots both in the mountains and in the cities.
Each year, starting in mid-September, the "koyo front" slowly moves southwards from the northern island of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower elevations of central and southern Japan around late November. Some trees in Tokyo and Kyoto remain colourful into December. The longer summer in Japan this year has delayed the onset of koyo this year, but the people of Japan eagerly await the arrival of autumn and the onset of the cooler weather.
Onomichi Lantern Festival
Have you heard of the Ozu film “Tokyo Story”? It is what made the little town of Onomichi famous! Located on the Seto Inland Sea, this town is also a World Heritage. But aside from those perks, what draws thousands of people into Onomichi in October is the Onomichi Lantern Festival. Contemporary decorative lanterns are used to create all kinds of beautiful images, patterns, and designs. Walking along Onomichi and admiring the beautiful lanterns in the crisp autumn night air is a truly incredible experience! Around 30,000 lanterns light up in front of Onomichi Station, the entrance paths to temples, and public event spaces.
Halloween events
In October, there are many Halloween events organized in our country. One of them is arranged by Tokyo Disney Resort. Here you will see the iconic pumpkin decoration and various dressed-up Disney characters. The evening parade is also Halloween themed, as is the Haunted Mansion Ride!
There are many other places in Tokyo where Halloween is celebrated, such as Sumida Aquarium, Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa and Universal Studios in Osaka. You can also attend the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival.
Tokyo Ramen Show
If you are a die-hard fan of ramen, then the Tokyo Ramen Show is ready to satisfy your tummy with some mouth-watering ramen dishes. It is the biggest ramen event in Japan that takes place in Komazawa Park, Tokyo. Only the finest ramen shops are qualified to present their ramen bowls at this event. Therefore, you have the golden opportunity to taste the most delicious bowls from all over the country without traveling to the various regions.
It is the biggest ramen event in Japan that takes place in Komazawa Park, Tokyo. Only the finest ramen shops are qualified to present their ramen bowls at this event.
Therefore, you have the golden opportunity to taste the most delicious bowls from all over the country without traveling to the various regions. You can even vote for your favourite ramen here. The event is divided into two rounds (24th to 29th October & 30th Oct to 4th Nov), and there will be several ramen booths during each segment. There is no entry fee required for the venue, but you have to purchase Ramen Tickets to buy the delicious bowls of ramen!
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Gion Odori - November 1-10
Kyoto’s Gion Odori is a performance by the geiko (geisha) and maiko (apprentice geisha) of the Gion Higashi district. It’s the only one of the annual odori events to take place in fall, and just as the leaves begun to change color.
Gion Odori is held in November at Gion Kaikan, near Yasaka Shrine. It was first held in 1894 and is one of Kyoto’s longest-running shows. The performance is also one of the smallest and a great opportunity to see maiko and geiko perform up close.
Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri - Mid November
Celebrate the autumn leaves at this annual festival in one of the most beautiful spots of Kyoto. On the river around Togetsu Bridge, boats will parade through with elaborately dressed characters reflecting the nobles of the Heian Period. The noblemen and women will perform from the boats, playing traditional instruments as well as performing Noh and Kyogen.
Tokushima Yokai Matsuri - Mid November
The Tokushima Yokai (monster) Matsuri is a unique event that takes place at Kamimyo Elementary School near the somewhat remote Hiraga Shrine in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture – a town that is famous for Yokai.
If you’re not a yokai-culture, manga or anime devotee, then you might be unfamiliar with these monsters. Yokai are supernatural monsters that come from Japanese folklore.
The festival will feature local delicacies as well as a march of the Yokai, a Yokai Mikoshi procession and a band made up of, you guessed it, Yokai.
Fukuoka November Grand Sumo Tournament - November 12-26
Held every November, this is the final of Japan’s six annual Sumo Tournaments, known as honbasho. With sumo rankings released a few weeks before, it’s a chance to see the traditional sport up close and personal. While the fights are broadcast on NHK, nothing beats the atmosphere of the tense final matches of the day, complete with cushion-throwing and cheers.
